Why the Corners of Your Mouth Get Dry and What You Can Do at Home

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Are you struggling with dry corners around your mouth? They can be uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes embarrassing. The condition, often called angular cheilitis, can make simple actions like smiling, eating, or talking feel irritating. While persistent or severe cases may need medical treatment, mild dryness and cracking can often be managed at home with simple care and consistency.

Here are some effective home remedies that can help soothe and heal dry corners around your mouth.

Home Remedies to Treat Dry, Cracked Corners Around Your Mouth

1. Keep the Area Moist With Petroleum Jelly or Coconut Oil

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One of the most common reasons for cracked mouth corners is dryness. Petroleum jelly or virgin coconut oil application keeps the area moist and protected from saliva and the environment.

Use a thin layer 2-3 times a day, especially before bed.

2. Use Honey for Healing

Honey has antimicrobial and healing abilities. It can be used to heal cracked skin.

Apply raw honey to the affected area, leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and gently wipe it off. You can do this once or twice daily.

3. Aloe Vera for Soothing Relief

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Aloe vera gel helps calm irritation and reduce inflammation. It's especially useful if the skin feels sore or burning.

Use fresh aloe gel if possible, or a pure, fragrance-free aloe product, and apply it twice a day.

4. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration always starts to appear on sensitive skin surfaces, such as the lower lip and the corners of the mouth. Water consumption throughout the day keeps the complexion hydrated from the inside out.

If your lips and mouth corners feel dry often, hydration may be a simple but overlooked fix.

5. Avoid Licking the Lips and Corners

While the temptation exists, actually "wetting" the area with a tongue will only make dryness worse. The mouth can further damage the skin because saliva will compromise the integrity of the skin and reduce the skin barrier's

If you find yourself doing this habitually, you can substitute the habit by keeping a tube of lip balm nearby.

6. Apply Gentle Lip Balm

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Select a fragrance-free and alcohol-free lip balm with ingredients such as shea butter, beeswax, or ceramides. Use it on a daily basis before venturing out during dry or cold weather conditions.

7. Check for Nutrient Gaps

Cracking in this region may, at times, be associated with iron, vitamin B12, or various B vitamin deficiencies. Although home remedies may provide relief in this regard, dryness in this region may take time to resolve once deficiencies are corrected via diet or supplements.

8. Avoid Harsh Toothpaste and Skincare Products

Strong flavours, whitening agents, or foaming ingredients in toothpaste can irritate the mouth corners. Switching to a mild, non-irritating toothpaste may help if the problem keeps returning.

When to See a Doctor

If the cracks take longer than a week to heal, reappear, or become infected, with symptoms such as redness, swelling, or pus, it is best to seek a doctor or a dermatologist. You may require antifungal and/or medication if it is a secondary condition.

Bottomline

Dryness in the corners of the mouth can occur frequently and is often easy to take care of by oneself. But if the skin problem comes back repeatedly, it might signal the need to examine the situation more closely, your skin indicates what's happening in your body.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.